All that Pet Love Comes at a Cost

    All that Pet Love Comes at a Cost October is Adopt a Dog & Pet Month which is a great time to focus on bringing in a new “fur baby” into your life. I currently enjoy the companionship of a two-year-old, pure-bred border collie, Sage. As many proud moms would say, she is both beautiful […]

    Family Matters2 min read
    Youth Needed for New Podcast Series

    Youth participants needed for financial services podcast To help grow the financial knowledge of younger Manitobans, the MoneySmart Manitoba be producing it’s *second* official podcast, highlighting the financial issues and challenges facing younger people today. MoneySmart is now recruiting a panel consisting of Manitoba residents, between the ages of 18-34, who are open to participating […]

    Family Matters Home Ownership Insurance Investing1 min read
    How do you like my new (previously owned) table?

    It is a sunny Saturday morning and I am sitting at the kitchen table at my cottage. What struck me on my morning’s bike ride around Winnipeg Beach was the number of garage sales that I came across and the number of people out and about shopping for a bargain. We all know that Manitobans […]

    Family Matters Investing4 min read
    Three Key Real Estate Rules That Effect You in 2022

    As a kid I recall rules being a pain. It made no sense to me that I needed to go to bed at 8:00 PM in the summer when it was still light out, I wasn’t the least bit tired and all the other neighbourhood kids got to stay up. Nor did it make sense […]

    Family Matters Home Ownership3 min read
    How to Protect Your Money In Less Than Five Minutes

    I receive calls every week from across Manitoba from people of every age who have lost money to investment fraud. Some have lost as little as $250 and some as much as $600,000. Regardless of the amount, the bottom line is that once you hand your money over to a fraudster, it is very unlikely […]

    Family Matters Fraud3 min read
    Is life insurance right for you?

    Recently my mom and I were talking about estate planning and the topic of life insurance came up. As a single person without any dependents, life insurance has not been something that I have contemplated. She and my dad on the other hand, purchased a policy when they had their first child. Their primary concern […]

    Family Matters Insurance4 min read
    My basement flooded. Five reasons why home insurance is so important

    It was the Friday night of the August long weekend and I was all ready to step out the door for the start of my summer holidays when I surprisingly stepped in to a large puddle of water… in my basement. Looking further, I discovered that my three-year-old hot water tank had been leaking and […]

    Family Matters Home Ownership Insurance4 min read
    Who Can You Trust? Four steps to naming a TCP

    You’re likely familiar with the ‘Trust Fall’ – a team-building exercise that has been around long enough now that it’s already been parodied to death in film and television. More recent research into the nature of workplace community and productivity has shown the exercise itself is not all that effective in building real, long-term trust […]

    Family Matters Helping Seniors6 min read
    Money Matters at Your Library: Popular Reads on Personal Finance

    A MoneySmart Guest Blog Your public library is an incredible resource for free information and entertainment. You can borrow books, movies, magazines and video games, use the computers and WiFi, enjoy a concert, or simply meet up with a friend. The library has something for everyone. Libraries are also budget-friendly with expert staff to help […]

    Family Matters Guest Blog5 min read
    Budget Friendly Food Tips for Non-Coupon Clippers

    Do you clip coupons, browse flyers or use money saving grocery apps? If so, you’re already using some great strategies for saving money on groceries. Keep doing what you’re doing! If you’re like me and can’t get into the routine of clipping coupons or scanning flyers, don’t worry, there are other ways to stay on […]

    Family Matters Guest Blog7 min read